Internal-combustion engine



ay 13, 1924. 1,494,260 A. LOETSCHER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 18. 1922 21- wmvsssss J 5 3. INVE/VTUR 34; 25 A. Loehcbez imam, 7a ATTORNEYS Patented May 13, 1924 lgidaztiti ALVIN LOETSCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed March 18, 1922. Serial No. 544,880.

IT all 1072 out it may concern: Be it known that I, Anvil? Lonrsoi-rnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to an im- 4 provement in internal combustion engines wherein means is provided for introducing into the cylinders of the engine or into the combustible charge supplied thereto a predetermined proportion of water and auxiliary air.

The object of'the invention is to provide a device of this character which is automatic in operation and which operates to introduce into the cylinders or into the combustible charge a proper proportion of water and air so as to enhance the character of the combustible mixture and minimize deposits of carbon while insuring complete combus' tion with maximum efficiency.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in which the supply of water and auxiliary air is regulated by electro magnetic means, under the control ofand responsive to the demands of the engine, whereby the quantity of water and auxiliary air is at all times supplied in the proper proportion.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is of extremely simple and durable construction, reliable in operation and easy andinexpensive to manufac ture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, illustrating an internal combustion engine, embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the valve control; and

Figure 3 is a detail view, in section, taken approximately on line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, the nupanel 14.

meral designates the cylinders of an internal combustion engine which may hoof any conventional type and which is preferably equippedwith an electric generator 6 shown as comprising a magneto but which may be a dynamo or'the like. The magneto is driven from the crank shaft of the engine in any conventional manner as by means of the usual ge-a h1g7.- An intake manifold 8 leads to the cylinders of the engine and includes an induction pipe 9 fed from a carburetor 10 of standard design.-

An inlet pipe 11 is provided and one end thereof communicates with the induction pipe 9 and the other end thereof is flattened, as at 12 and is open to communicate with the atmosphere. The openend of the inlet pipe 11 is secure'diby means of a clamping post 13 upon a panel 14 fastened to the crank case of the engine.

An electromagnet15 is mounted upon the The coils or. windings of the solenoid are connected in series with the generator of the engine by suitable conductors 16. An armature 1'? is associated with the electromagnet and is pivotally mounted, as at 18, upon the panel 1 1i.v The free end of the armature 17 is offset at an oblique angle with respect to the main portion thereof and the offset end carries a valve 19 comprising a U-shaped piece of resilient metal having one cndof oneleg secured to one face of the olfset end and having its bight or loop just free of theoffset end whereby the other leg of the U shaped valve is spring supported and has capacity for fle-Xion in order that it may snugly engage the open inlet end of the pipe 11, as clearly shownin the drawings. It is to be understood that the leg adyacent the inlet pipe thus constitutes a flat plate valve having ample area to entirely cover the open end of the inlet pipe; The valve 19 serves to regulate the inflow of auxiliary air as will be hereinafter -more fully described and this valve per se and its'control form the subject-matter of my co-pending application filed December 13, 1921, Serial No. 522,189.

A water supply pipe 20 leads from the water jacket of the engine or from other suitable source of Water supply and communicates with a valve block 21 supported by means of a clamp 22 upon the inlet pipe 11. In lieu of the clamp 22, the valve block may be welded or otherwise suitably fas-j tened upon the inlet pipe passage s formed in the valve block and extends from the connection of the valve block with the pipe 20, which connection is indicated at to an opening 24 provided in the pipe 11 (see Figure 3), and in this manner the passage afi'ords communication between the pipe 20 and the pipe 11. A needle valve 25 is slidably fitted in the bore 26 provided therefor in the valve block 21 and coacts with a valve seat 27 formed in the walls of the passage 23 whereby the needle valve is adapted to control the flow of water through the passage 23. A stufling box 28 is associated with the needle valve 25 to prevent leakage. The stem of the needle valve extends loeyond the valve block and carries a cap or head 30 which is pivotally connected, as at 31, to a lug or link 17 carried by the armature 17. It is obvious that if desired a pin and slot connection may be substituted for the connection 31, it being understood that the connection between the armature 17 and the needle valve must be such that rectilinear motion is imparted to the needle valve from the armature.

Spring means is provided for urging the armature 17 to such position as to maintain the needle valve 25 in closed position so as to prevent flow of water from the pipe 20 into the pipe 11, and this spring means preferably comprises a post 32 carried by the panel 14 and upon which an adjusting screw 33 .is mounted, the adjusting screw 33 serving to tension a coil spring 34 which engages the armature 17 for the purpose described.

In operation when the engine is started and at low engine speeds, the motion transmitted to the armature of the electric generator is of relatively low velocity and therefore the current delivered to the electromagnet is of relatively small value, consequently, the intensity of the magnetic field is not sutficient to attract the armature 17 against the action of the coil spring 34 so that the needle valve 25 remains closed at such time. I

As the speed of the engine increases, it is desirable to supply auxiliary air and water to the combustible charge to minimize carbon deposits and to insure complete combustion of the hydrocarbons and maximum efficiency. In the present invention when the speed of the engine so increases the current delivered from the generator to the solenoid increases in value so that the intensity of the magnetic field also increases and to such a degree that the armature 17 will be attracted to the electromagnet against the action of the coil spring 34. This movement of the armature pulls the needle valve 25 away from its seat 27 and when away from its seat the needle valve does not obstruct the passage 23 but permits water to flow from the pipe 20 through the passage 23 trom the pipe 11. This same movementof the armature also swings the valve 19 away from the open end of the pipe 11 and thus permits air to flow in through this pipe."

The auxiliary air and water thus supplied to the pipe 11 are carried into the induction pipe wherein they commingle with the combustible mixture and as a part of this mix ture the auxiliary air and water are introduced into the cylinders of the engine. It is to be understood that the suction or pumping eflect of the pistons operate to draw the air and water in through the pipe 11 and this suction coupled with the heat to which the water is subjected properly conditions the water. In lieu of taking the water from the cooling system of the engine of which the water jacket is of course a part, the water may be taken from a tank, reservoir or other suitable source of water supply.

I claim:

In a device for supplying auxiliary air and water vapor to an internal combustion engine, an air inlet pipe opening at one end to the atmosphere and leading to the engine, a water supply pipe, a valve block fitted on the air inlet pipe and having a connection with the water supply pipe, said valve block being provided with a passage therein leading from the connection with the water supply pipe to'the air inlet pipe, the air inlet pipe being provided with an opening registering with the adjacent portion-o'f said passage, a needle valve operatively mounted in the valve block and regulating the flow of water through said passage, and electro magnetic means for controlling the needle valve and including an armature having a lug connected with the needle valve, and a valve carried by the armature and controlling the open end of the air inlet pipe.

ALVIN LOETSCHER. 

